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French far-right father-daughter feud disrupts tradition

PARIS (AP) - Jean-Marie Le Pen, a founder and decades-long leader of France's far-right National Front, says his daughter, the party president who has expelled him, will lose next year's presidential race if she fails to unify the party.

The bitter division between the 87-year-old and his daughter Marine Le Pen, 47, played out Sunday with the party's traditional May Day parade canceled and separate wreaths laid at two different statues of Joan of Arc - the party's patron saint.

Jean-Marie Le Pen, who instituted the tradition, spoke at the gilded statue where a year ago he implored Joan of Arc for help. He says "for the National Front, there is but a single voice." Divided, he says, "the National Front president will be defeated."

Marine Le Pen was speaking at an afternoon banquet.

Jean-Marie le Pen, former head of the far-right party National Front delivers a speech at Joan of Arc Statue during its annual May Day march, in Paris, France, Sunday, May 1, 2016. French far right leader and presidential hopeful Marine Le Pen is dueling with her father Jean-Marie for public support as the two hold competing events Sunday celebrating Joan of Arc and French glory. (AP Photo/Kamil Zihnioglu) The Associated Press
Jean-Marie le Pen, former head of the far-right party National Front delivers a speech at Joan of Arc Statue during its annual May Day march, in Paris, France, Sunday, May 1, 2016. French far right leader and presidential hopeful Marine Le Pen is dueling with her father Jean-Marie for public support as the two hold competing events Sunday celebrating Joan of Arc and French glory. (AP Photo/Kamil Zihnioglu) The Associated Press
Jean-Marie le Pen, former head of the far-right party National Front delivers a speech at Joan of Arc Statue during its annual May Day march, in Paris, France, Sunday, May 1, 2016. French far right leader and presidential hopeful Marine Le Pen is dueling with her father Jean-Marie for public support as the two hold competing events Sunday celebrating Joan of Arc and French glory. (AP Photo/Kamil Zihnioglu) The Associated Press
France's far-right National Front party leader Marine Le Pen stands in front of the statue of Joan of Arc, during the party's traditional May Day demonstration in Paris, France, Sunday, May 1, 2016. French far right leader and presidential hopeful Le Pen is dueling with her father Jean-Marie for public support as the two hold competing events Sunday celebrating Joan of Arc and French glory. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler) The Associated Press
France's far-right National Front party leader Marine Le Pen stands in front of the statue of Joan of Arc, during the party's traditional May Day demonstration in Paris, France, Sunday, May 1, 2016. French far right leader and presidential hopeful Le Pen is dueling with her father Jean-Marie for public support as the two hold competing events Sunday celebrating Joan of Arc and French glory. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler) The Associated Press
France's far-right National Front party leader Marine Le Pen leaves the statue of Joan of Arc, after the party's traditional May Day demonstration in Paris, France, Sunday, May 1, 2016. French far right leader and presidential hopeful Le Pen is dueling with her father Jean-Marie for public support as the two hold competing events Sunday celebrating Joan of Arc and French glory. ( (AP Photo/Michel Spingler) The Associated Press
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